(CNN) - Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Hillary Clinton, should she decide to launch a campaign for the White House, will not be judged by her husband's record in the Oval Office.

"I don't think Bill Clinton is as relevant as Hillary Clinton if she decides to run for president," Romney said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"In her case, I think people will look at her record as the secretary of state and say, during that period of time, did our relations with nations around the world elevate America and elevate our interests, or were they receding? I think her record is what she will be judged upon, not the record of her husband."

Bill Clinton's sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, while it "embarrassed the nation," should not affect Hillary Clinton's chances should she decide to launch a presidential campaign, he said.

"The times when (Bill) was president were by and large positive economic times for the country. On the other hand, he embarrassed the nation. He breached his responsibility, I think, as an adult and as a leader in his relationship. And I think that's very unfortunate, but I don't think that's Hillary Clinton's to explain. She has her own record, her own vision for where she would take the country."

Romney's comments stand in contrast to Republicans who have, in recent weeks, tied Hillary Clinton to her husband's scandal. Sen. Rand Paul has said that Bill Clinton's history damages Democrats' record as they argue that the GOP is waging a war on women.

"If they want to take a position on women's rights, by all means do. But you can't do it and take it from a guy who was using his position of authority to take advantage of young women in the workplace," Paul said in an interview with C-SPAN.

The Kentucky Republican, who is also seriously considering a bid for president in 2016, has said Democrats should return any money they raised with the help of the former president, who was impeached in 1998 by the House for lying about his relationship with Lewinsky.

For his part, Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has been in the public eye more in recent weeks, has said a 2016 run isn’t in the cards for him, despite speculation that there could be support for a third Romney campaign.

"The answer is no, I'm not running for president in 2016. It's time for someone else to take that responsibility, and I'll be supporting our nominee," Romney said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."

soundoff(16 Responses)

Oh Mittens, Mittens, still not living in reality. I hate to break it to you, but Bill Clinton is still wildly popular.

February 16, 2014 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Gurgyl

Why do you ask this guy?

February 16, 2014 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |

Marie MD

Why are we still hearing from this loser? We didn't care in 2012 and we care even less now. Go play with your car elevator.
As far as the KY idiot (calling him a turkey is an insult to turkeys all over the world) one man cheating on his wife vs a whole teaklan/repug party waging war on women and their reproductive rights? Really?
Let's not leave out their war against seniors, gays, veterans, the poor and anyone "not them"

February 16, 2014 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Tony

Romney is not as relevant as Bill Clinton, so Romney should just stop talking.

February 16, 2014 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

Randyk

Mitt Romney sure talks a lot more sensibly and coherently when he isn't running for office.

February 16, 2014 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |

freedom

Bill's infidelities are relevant. It reflects directly on Hilary's hypocrisy of women's rights and her extreme lack of integrity. And the world will not forget "What difference does it make" – which she owns.

February 16, 2014 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |

Thomas

Will Bill be staying in the White House Master Bedroom ?

Or will he be sleeping in the Dog House ?

I think this is a valid question .

February 16, 2014 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

rs

Mr. Romney is probably right, although that won't stop the GOP from trying to dredge up their faux conspiracies and conflicts regarding the Clintons from the '90s. The more interesting note is that a truly irrelevant candidate, who isn't running for office (like Mr. Romney), is even more irrelevant than Mr. Clinton….

February 16, 2014 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

just asking

of course it will be hillary clinton's record that people will look at, and it won't take long because she has done jack. her most famous accomplishment was her incompetence and lies concerning benghazi where one of her direct reports was killed needlessly, according to the democrat led senate committee report. it was imply horrendous how she lied right to the face of the families of those killed there. she is a very cold, ruthless person.

Romney won't attack anything! He had Obama by the short hairs regarding the Benghazi screw-up during the presidential debates and wouldn't press the issue. If Republicans listen to losers like Romney and do not attack the democrats on every issue, they will lose again.

February 16, 2014 04:22 pm at 4:22 pm |

Rick McDaniel

Bill Clinton, is the ONLY reason, anyone even considers Hillary, for President, at all. She has always ridden his popular coattails, even with all of his womanizing.

February 16, 2014 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

don in albuquerque

just asking

Poor baby. Did you miss that the facility torched in Benghazi was actually a CIA front operation? In fact most of the people evacuated were CIA people. Things go wrong in the spy world, and if you think you are ever going to hear the truth from anybody you a deluding yourself. Show me an honest spy, and I'll show you a dead spy.